Solved How to search for Explorer files that are read-only

Hello,
I am trying to search for all Explorer files that have the read-only attribute set.
I can show the Attributes column in Explorer, and I can set Tools > Folder options... > View > Apply to Folders. This is helpful, but when I perform a search, the above options do not carry through to my search results view.
So I am hoping to use Advanced Query Syntax to find all read-only files.
Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Keith

You could do this from a command prompt using the dir /ar /s command. Pipe the output to a file for use later.

Start a command prompt.
Type dir /ar /s > ReadOnlyFIles.txt

Results will be in ReadOnlyFiles.txt when done.

Enter dir /? from a command prompt for usage.

The search in (the excellent) Freecommander filemanager does the job.
For paid programs, try FileLocator Pro.

Hope this helps (and, am awaiting the usual flak for recommending anything else than the built-in w7 search).

Thanks Ztruker and 4wd.
No flak, but I am indeed trying to do this within Windows Explorer. I will keep your ideas in mind in case I cannot achieve this.
Many thanks.
Keith

I don't believe you can do what you want in Windows Explorer. Command Prompt or another app is needed.

It is possible to search for readonly files from explorer itself, but its a bit complicated.

You can do the search in the search box for "attributes"
The attribute code is the complicated part. The file attribute constants are as follows
For example, if a file has the attributes READONLY, HIDDEN and ARCHIVE, you will have to add the constants for the three.

1 + 2 + 32 = 35

Searching for "attributes:35" will list all the files with READONLY, HIDDEN and ARCHIVE attribute set.
Searching for "attributes:2081" will list all the files with READONLY, ARCHIVE and COMPRESSED attribute set.

You can also display the attributes in explorer as a column.
Right click on the column title, click on "More.." and select "Attributes"

This should give an idea about the attributes set for the files.

Source: Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) and File Attributes

Hello gladson1976,
Thanks for your reply. I was able to show folder using "attributes:16", but, even though I manually in Explorer set a file to read-only, I could not find any read-only files using "attributes:1".
So I remain confused. I am still curious as to how to do this in Explorer, but I just purchased File Locator Pro (recommended by 4wd above), and that solves the problem.
Thanks again to everyone for your responses.
Cheers,
Keith

KeithHoward said:

Hello gladson1976,
Thanks for your reply. I was able to show folder using "attributes:16[/SIZE][/SIZE]", but, even though I manually in Explorer set a file to read-only, I could not find any read-only files using "attributes:1".
So I remain confused. I am still curious as to how to do this in Explorer, but I just purchased File Locator Pro (recommended by 4wd above), and that solves the problem.
Thanks again to everyone for your responses.
Cheers,
Keith

Click to expand...

Of course you did not find it because you used the attribute search wrong, not as Gladson explained. The search attributes:1 finds the files and folders where the Read Only attribute is set but no other attributes. As Windows default is to set Archive attribute on, you should have searched attributes:33 because 1 (Read Only) + 32 (Archive) = 33.

Look here: I set Read Only attribute to one file:



Then I search attributes:33 i.e. files with both Archive and Read Only attributes set and of course Windows finds the file:



Searching attributes:1 gives naturally nothing for I have no files in this folder where only the Read Only attribute is set, all have the Archive attribute on, too:



OK, let's remove the Archive attribute from this file leaving only the Read Only:



And now, naturally, Windows Search finds my file using attributes:1 i.e searching the files and folders where only the Read Only attribute is set, all other attributes turned off:



You spent money for something that you could easily have done for free with native Windows Search, if you had just read the instructions given to you by Gladson instead of listening someone who very clearly knows next to nothing about Windows Search.

4wd said:

The search in (the excellent) Freecommander filemanager does the job.
For paid programs, try FileLocator Pro.

Hope this helps (and, am awaiting the usual flak for recommending anything else than the built-in w7 search).

Click to expand...

I find these comments of yours really obnoxious and repulsive. Every time, every thread when we are talking about Search you come and show your total lack of knowledge and give misleading information. This time it went so far that the OP spend money on a third party toy because of your "expertise".

A gentleman would contact OP now to compensate costs caused by his misleading advice.

Kari

Since I contributed to the "Nope, can't do that" slant, let me say in my own defense that I have never, ever seen any mention of the use of the attribute: search argument in explorer and I spend a lot of time on various forums reading and trying to help.

Google searches also did not turn up any useful suggestions.

So ... many thanks for an eye opening post. Time to do some research.

Thanks Kari and gladson1976, apologies Keith

From my part, you are welcome .

First question after trying this for a bit.

How do I find all files with the Read Only attribute set with or without any other attributes being set. From what I can see, you can't do it using just Windows Explorer and that is what Keith asked for:

I am trying to search for all Explorer files that have the read-only attribute set.

Click to expand...

Willing to be proven wrong (again I hope).

Ztruker said:

First question after trying this for a bit.

How do I find all files with the Read Only attribute set with or without any other attributes being set. From what I can see, you can't do it using just Windows Explorer and that is what Keith asked for:

I am trying to search for all Explorer files that have the read-only attribute set.

Click to expand...

Willing to be proven wrong (again I hope).

Click to expand...

OK, here we go:

Take the table from Gladson's earlier post:
Now combine, add. Searching files with Read Only attribute set, no other attributes:
(Read Only = 1)

Search files with both Read Only and Archive attributes set, no other attributes:
(Read Only 1 + Archive 32 = 33)

Search files with Hidden attribute set, no other attributes:
(Hidden = 2)

Search files with both Read Only, Hidden and Archive attributes set, no other attributes:
(Read Only 1 + Hidden 2 + Archive 32 = 35)

Search images with partial filename FIN with both Read Only and Archive attributes set , no other attributes:

Kari

Hello again.

Kari, Thanks for your very detailed and clear explanation, which I read carefully. If I understand you correctly, to find all occurrences of read-only files, you would need to do a number of searches, to cover each combination of read-only and other attributes being set. My goal is to be able to execute one search and find all read-only files.

Of course, I would love to avoid buying more software, but my current understanding is that that single search is not possible in Explorer. File Locator Pro achieves my goal well, and I am happy with the product so far. (By the way, I have no affiliation whatsoever with that company.)

Finally, thanks again to everyone for an enlightening (albeit slightly sparky at times... discussion.

Bye for now.

Keith

By the way, I just realised that I fell behind on the threads, and I wrote my immediately previous response before reading Ztruker's and Kari's latest two responses. Sorry about that. However, my understanding remains that you cannot do a single search in Explorer to find all read-only files. Having said that, I would love to be proven wrong.

Cheers,

Keith

A normal user usually uses only 4 attributes: Read Only, System, Hidden and Archive. You can search any combinations of these with attributes:X using logical operator OR.

An example:
Search for files with only Read Only attribute set, Read Only and Archive set, Read Only, Archive and Hidden set:

A logical operator (AND, OR, NOT) must always be in capital letters.

Kari

Ahhh, of course! That does indeed answer the question.

Many thanks Kari! Happy Saturday.

You are welcome.

A lot of great information in this thread. I learned a lot thanks everyone.

That's great Kari, thanks again.

(tried it and it works perfectly, very cool)

Thread marked solved, issue handled. Just to finish this topic from my side, a few examples of AND, OR & NOT to complete our advanced search mini-tut .

Find all images and videos with partial filename Hawaii taken (filmed) on July 2012 but not those taken between July 14th and 21st 2012:
This would list all image and video files where Hawaii is a part of the filename and which are taken (filmed) in July 2012, leaving out those taken (filmed) between July 14th and July 21st.
(Notice: date format and separators must match your current input language settings.)

Find all files with extension .doc which are created 2011 and modified 2013:

That's about it!

Kari